The question
Write about the following topic:
Some people believe that elderly parents should be looked after by their adult children at home, while others think that professional care homes provide better support.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Key ideas for a high-band answer
- View 1: family care offers emotional security, familiar surroundings and a continued role in family life; many see it as a moral obligation.
- Care homes can be expensive and residents may feel lonely or abandoned.
- View 2: conditions such as dementia require constant, trained medical supervision that working family members cannot provide; homes also offer company and activities.
- Own opinion clearly stated, e.g. the choice should depend on the person's health and wishes, with state support such as home nursing and respite care.
Band 9 model answer
317 words · written by Abroadway to show band 9 features (not an official IELTS sample)
As people live longer, more families must decide how to care for their parents in old age. In countries such as Bangladesh, it has traditionally been expected that children will look after their parents at home, whereas in much of Europe residential care homes are common. Both options have advantages, but I believe the right choice depends on the older person's health and wishes.
Those who favour family care argue that it offers emotional security that no institution can match. Elderly people who remain at home are surrounded by familiar faces and routines, and they can continue to play a role in family life, for example by helping to raise grandchildren. Many people also see caring for parents as a moral obligation, a way of repaying the sacrifices their parents made. Moreover, care homes can be very expensive, and residents sometimes suffer from loneliness and a sense of having been abandoned.
On the other hand, supporters of care homes point out that looking after an elderly relative can be extremely demanding. Older people with conditions such as dementia or limited mobility may need constant supervision and medical attention, which family members working full-time cannot provide. Professional nursing staff are trained to manage medication, prevent falls and respond to emergencies. Furthermore, care homes offer social activities and the company of people of a similar age.
In my view, family care is preferable for elderly people who are reasonably healthy, as it allows them to stay independent and connected to their loved ones. However, when someone's needs become too complex, choosing professional care should not be seen as a failure of duty. Governments could support families by funding home visits from nurses and providing respite services that give carers a break.
In conclusion, both family and professional care have important roles to play, and the decision should be based on the individual's needs rather than on tradition or guilt.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- elderly
- care homes
- family
- loneliness
- medical
- professional
- obligation
- nursing
- respite
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